New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-09
THE TELEPHONE PATENTS.
IN 1898 THE MAIN ONE WILL EXPIRE.
WILL THE MONOPOLY BE EXTENDED AFTER THAT y
FONTS II TIE INVESTIGATION.

WILL THE MONOPOLY BE EXTENDED AFTER THAT y
POINTS IN THE INVESTIGATION.
Chairman AnswOrth, VI the Telephone Investigating
Committee took up vigorously yesterday the question Of
telephone monopoly and nlss the figures OF the New
York and Ner-Jersey Telephone Company presented
To him By President Cutler Of the company. He had
warm time of it the situation with Mr. Cutler and
Lawyer Camp. Mr. Cutler first sought to show that the
Bel! Company wsud not have monopoly OF the tcls
phone business after its principal patent expired in
1898 because although its royalties in pcrpetuity
alter that date IL could carry out its agreement to
protect lessecs.
How would it be-" asked Mr.. Ainsworth. "if the Boil
Company shoIld have otter patents which would pre-
vent other companies fren ing its telephones without
the payment % royalty"
Thc main patent will xpire in S93 "whsDerea Lawyer
Camp. and Mr.. Cutler fell back that the
means ~ showing that other patents would hedge the
telephone around prevent opposition companies from
in-ng up Mr. Ainsuorth did not look satisfied and
he asI ed II Mr.. Cutler had heard that the Bell
Company was keeping in reserve in Bss'on certain
principle. which would enable II control the telephone
service after tho expiration 81 the patent in 1899
:, Qwhat do think OF The rumor A-Ai there is OF
n The o, me goad e.. IA eno;1 70 Ter
mo- to z" patents at once on any new discovery.
Mr.. Cutler thought hat tina Bel Company had large
protection by csyssts eve, /. II had any. Its policy was
10 hod no valuable Invention open" for ansmcnt.
Mr. Ain'worth asked NJ. cutler II he thought the tce
ph'ne luxury OF II business necessity.
Mr. cutler consider luNsry II !. more
ana lypcwrter or stcnogrsphcr who facilitate business
pli dtr
Nr AinsWorti-NOu consider the telephone by it,
n"ihre monopoly Ayes. sr
Mr.. cutler explained that moro than one company
csud net suhsst IN scattered territory AMI at the
TIRE Give an efficient service.
As president OF tho New-lOrk aud New-,IeTsey C0H
pasr a.r cutler sail iS salary 5000 $4,000
80 tie head OF The NsvNok and Pennsylvania lie hat
10 salary a. president oil the staten Island Telephone
Company
Mr.. camp crss.sx,mned Mr.. Cutler at length. lie
declared his lack Of fnn III pnttlsg telephous wires
Underground. Arer I'VE years experiment the trle
phone company Of Newcasile Eng Mr.. Cutler learned
last summer IN LsEdos. had iouni the underground
system worthless TO place his paDys wires usIcr
ground Ia BOoklrn wsuld involve the abandoE rent ~
SJOo.uO0 Of IFS pr.srst property. while the company
would give lis aerial property Tor taking IL down
he char &c would cost eacn subscriber Sl5S whereas
now he pad or something. over $50 on the avsrags
A. tins ground would not be good tho
aerial Mr.. cutler hoped that public sentiment woud
demand the fHll enforcement Of the sullivan law.
Tables we're then handed in. the first showing
tLe present net earnings 10 each investment,
exclusive ~ tbs $4,000 franchise stack tue second
showing thiS including the frasciss isis is the first
ia3l', the first date December 81, 1888, c0verin.
ltrlod Of hiteen noaths